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Prospect Park—a masterpiece of landscape architecture by Frederick Law Olmsted—is a bucolic escape for year-round activities, from kayaking in Brooklyn’s only lake to wintertime sledding over hill and dale.
Prospect Park has a rich history dating back to its origins in the late 19th century, when new concepts concerning the role of public parks in America were gaining popularity. Following the creation of Central Park in Manhattan, civic leaders argued that a similar park in Brooklyn “would become a favorite resort for all classes of our community, enabling thousands to enjoy pure air, with healthful exercise, at all seasons of the year.”
Since Olmsted’s time, Prospect Park has evolved into a destination for year-round outdoor activities and cultural programming. Go-getters can play tennis, pickleball, basketball, baseball, soccer, and seasonal hockey.
Olmsted's five hundred and eighty-five acres of beautifully landscaped vistas bring the rural countryside into the heart of Brooklyn. Miles of pathways loop around the 90-acre Long Meadow and lead to a gorgeous 60-acre lake. Olmsted even created a craggy ravine, where spring-fed streams dash down rocky waterfalls.
More serene outdoor pursuits include birdwatching, dog walking, horseback riding, and early morning Tai Chi. The park’s busy slate of programming includes greenmarkets, Smorgasburg, the LeFrak Center at Lakeside, the Carousel, and the Audubon Center.
